Step right into a whimsical world at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! We recently experienced the reimagined Garden View Lounge Tea Experience, and trust me, it’s pure magic. Get ready to fall down the rabbit hole with us into a delightful afternoon tea.
Join me as I share all the enchanting details of this delightful tea party. Laura and I settled in, ready for an elegant afternoon filled with Wonderland charm and, of course, plenty of tea and scones.
A Magical Warm Welcome
As soon as we sat down, delicate floral teacups and saucers greeted us. The carpeted lounge felt intimate and refined, adorned with classic Victorian touches that reflect the resort’s timeless elegance. Natural light filled the space, pouring in through windows that framed sweeping views of flowering gardens and swaying palms just outside. Laura and I even switched seats, just like at the Mad Tea Party, to fully enjoy the view and the photogenic lighting.
Our gracious server, Rola, welcomed us by pouring warm rose water over two tablets in a little bowl. Suddenly, they sprouted into a pair of hand towels in a very Wonderland way! This small, thoughtful gesture, with its warmth and soft floral scent, set the perfect tone for an intentional and welcoming teatime.
As we explored the menu, Rola guided us through a selection of eight Twinings teas, right at our table. She presented a sample of each loose-leaf tea, allowing us to smell and explore before choosing.
I selected the Blackcurrant & Lavender tea, drawn to its deep berry aroma with gentle floral notes. Laura, always one for something unique, chose the Orangery of Lady Grey. This blend is exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort in the U.S., offering bright citrus notes layered over a refined black tea base.
A Round of Tea and Scones
Our individual teapots arrived shortly after, each prepared specifically for our selections. As my tea poured, the steam gently carried the scent of blackcurrant and lavender across the table. Having a pot to myself allowed me to sip at my own pace, returning to it throughout our afternoon without ever feeling rushed.
Along with the tea came warm Orange-Cranberry Scones, served with butter, rich Devonshire cream, and preserves. These scones were dense and wonderfully indulgent. Rola let us know that we could request another scone during our tea service, and once our teapots were finished, we could ask to refresh our tea, all included as part of the experience.
Climbing the Afternoon Tea Tower
Soon, Rola brought the afternoon tea tower to the ceremony of our ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs.’ Its three tiers offered a gradual journey through savory and sweet selections. But first, there was business to attend to. Rola humorously proclaimed that there was a problem with our roses on the topmost tier: they weren’t red!
She quickly fixed them up with a liberal pouring of rose sauce. Now we were safe from the scrutiny of the Queen of Hearts and ready to dive in!
The First Level: Savory Delights
The bottom tier of our tea tower featured rich herbal flavors in two savory selections. It’s good to know that a plant-based selection is also on The Garden View Lounge Tea Experience menu, along with a Children’s Afternoon Tea serving, and other extras like a cheese plate, caviar, and specialty drinks.
The Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart featured savory curried chicken salad topped with cherry gelée. Big fans of curry, Laura and I agreed that this was our favorite bite on the entire tower. The flaky tart was the perfect vessel for this tender curry treat, with the cherry gelée hearts adding just a bit of sweetness.
Next, the Footman’s Feast: Wonderland Salmon Crisp packed a bold salmon rillette on an interesting miso brown butter crisp. This flavor combination was new to me, with the brown butter sweetness mixing well with the salmon on top.
The Second Level: Delicate Flavors
Laura loved the Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich with egg salad on colorful beet bread. The playful coloring on the bread was so delightful, and again, this was an addition to the tower that truly satisfies.
The Caterpillar Cucumber Roll was the one I was most excited about. Since my early days imagining fancy tea parties, cucumbers and cream cheese were always on my dream menu. The butterfly pea flower-infused cream cheese added a bit of color and fantasy to a roll that was perfectly balanced; soft flavors of the crisp cucumber and the tang of the pumpernickel bread.
The Third Level: Intricate Sweets
The top tier dedicated itself entirely to desserts and pastries, each one beautifully presented. Nods to Alice in Wonderland mingled perfectly with the elegance of traditional afternoon tea.
I love both flamingos and croquet, so I went for the Flamingo Croquet Choux first. This puff was soft yet still crispy on the outside. The passion fruit cream filling and a raspberry crunch gave an impressive fruit flavor that was not at all overpowering.
The Matcha Mad Hatter is a good one to slice open to view the layers. Inside, we discovered a soft sponge cake with apricot jam and yuzu buttercream atop a piece of solid chocolate. The fruity flavors blended perfectly with the gentle matcha cake.
We sampled Painting the Rose next. I thought the Earl Grey-flavored teacake worked wonderfully with the rose buttercream and rose sauce on top. If you like a vibrant rose flavor, this is definitely your treat.
Our final toast was made via the Tea Party Tart. We plucked the tiny teacups from the top, then enjoyed the gentle sweetness of the coffee custard and Chantilly cream.
Mr. Twining Has Arrived
Laura was quite finished after we conquered the tower, but I couldn’t resist asking for another scone. As the final cups of tea poured, a very special guest popped by to say hello.
“So happy to be here today for the reopening of this fabulous restaurant with great food!” The gregarious Mr. Stephen Twining is the tenth generation of the famous tea family. His father, Sam Twining, was even at EPCOT on October 1, 1982, to welcome guests to The Tea Caddy in the UK Pavilion for the very first time. For fans of tea, this was like meeting a rock star!
Stephen is tall, British, and quick to laugh. He was delighted to join today’s tea party and encouraged us to try his favorite bites on the tea tower (he really likes the Cucumber Roll). I asked Stephen about his favorite tea blends, and he said he usually reaches for an English Breakfast in the morning and a refreshing green tea for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Laura, curiouser and curiouser, asked Mr. Twining perhaps the most iconic question: “How do you take your tea?”
“Depends on which tea,” Stephen suggested a splash of milk in the Orangery of Lady Grey or an English Breakfast. “But for green teas and herbals, just as they come.” I’ll be freely recounting this moment over tea for the next twenty years.
Reserve Your Tea Experience
Filled to the brim with tea and whimsy, we soon departed to continue our day at Disney. The Garden View Lounge — Tea Experience is an ideal option if you want to slow down your Walt Disney World Resort visit and savor every moment and flavor that comes across the table.
You can check availability and reserve your seat online directly through the Walt Disney World website. For anyone seeking a refined break filled with beautiful views, exceptional teas, and a sense of timeless Disney hospitality, this is an experience absolutely worth sitting down for.
